The brilliant Mehmas filly Going Global captured her eighth stakes win on Saturday when making it back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita.
Going Global took over on the far turn under Umberto Rispoli and quickened away for a comfortable score.
"Her last two drills have probably been some of her best drills to date—bullet works, but she's usually a little bit slower than that," trainer Phil D'Amato said. "She came out of her last race very sharp, so I just kind of played into that and just kept her on the sharp side, knowing we were going to run at a mile, and it paid off."
Going Global headed stateside win a win at Dundalk to her credit. Turned over to D'Amato on behalf of CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, Ray Pagano, she has become a revelation in California, winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes, Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes, Grade 3 Providencia Stakes, and Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes in addition to her pair of Goldikova scores.
Only out of the top three once in 13 American tries, she also boasts a placing in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes. Her record reads ten wins for almost $1.14 million in earnings.
Going Global's next appearance could be in the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Kentucky.
"She's just been a joy to train," D'Amato said, "and I'm happy to send her off, at least tentatively, as a winner in the Goldikova. She's done so much for myself and the barn and the partners. Whatever happens after this, one way or another she's going to have a happy life, either as a broodmare or potentially race next year.
"She's just the epitome of a champion in my heart. She's done so much for me. She's won many graded stakes in stylish fashion and she's probably the best grass filly I've ever trained... It means a lot and to send her out, potentially a winner, I mean that's what I thought we owed to her, and she did it in stylish fashion... She just has all the attributes, the heart, the will and an unbelievable turn of foot."
Umberto Rispoli added: "I was on the right horse. She is very easy to ride. Once I hit the turn to go home, I just pressed the button and she did the rest. She can go forever, and it's a good way to go out. It's always sad to see a horse like her go. I feel so privileged and grateful to have been on her for her final race."
Going Global was bred in Ireland by Nicky Hartery out of Wrood, a winning Invasor half-sister to Group 3 winner Racer Forever, and originally purchased for €15,500 by Pioneer Racing out of the Goffs Sportsman's Sale.
She is one of three Group or Grade 1 winners for Mehmas alongside Minzaal and Supremacy and is one of 19 stakes winners out of his first three crops overall.
She also caps an excellent few days for Mehmas that also featured stakes placings by the two-year-olds fillies Believing and Tax Implications.
